A state lawmaker introduced a bill last week that would allow bars, nightclubs and restaurants to move last call further into the wee hours.

Under SB635 by state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, cities and counties could apply to state alcohol officials for permission to bump back closing time by two hours.

This later last call would "increase social and tourism offerings, increase local tax revenue and create jobs," Leno said in a press release.

Leno's bill is designed primarily for big cities such as San Francisco, which compete for tourists against cities such as New York and Las Vegas that offer later closing times.

Still, the bill would allow any city to petition the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control - including Stockton, which for much of its existence featured all-night saloons whether state regulators OK'd them or not.

In fact, if the stories are true, after a hard day of regulating, state regulators would come down to Stockton to drink, gamble and consort with floozies.

The bill would not allow all city bars to remain open; city and state would work out a few strategic establishments. Like in a nightclub district.

Locally, a business district such as the Miracle Mile could allow a bar or two to stay open late. That could increase business to a nearby coffee shop, hot dog stand or late-night pharmacy. It'd be part of an overall business plan.

As it happens, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, Douglass Wilhoit, is a former policeman. He looked at it from both perspectives.

"If it would help business, great," Wilhoit said. Then he switched hats. "In my previous life as cop, as far as I'm concerned, nothing very good happens after 10 and 11 at night."

"Maybe I'm just jealous I can't stay out that late," he added.

Wes Rhea, head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the idea makes sense for big cities. But not Stockton. Late-night bars here don't integrate into an entertainment economy.

"To me, the economic impact you get after 2 a.m. is just more drinking," Rhea said. "Not having an area that is very pedestrian-friendly - and we don't have a very strong cab system - in this town we should not be encouraging drinking."

I also called my friend Greg Dart. A man renowned for his field research in this area.

"The later it gets," he sniffed, "the closer it is to Amateur Hour."

Hiking down to Davoli's Avenue Inn, a downtown bar, I queried several guys hunched on barstools.

They disapproved of the idea.

"Only drunks are here so late," said one man who identified himself as John Doe. "I'm here all the time, I know."

Another customer - coincidentally, also named John Doe - suggested reasonably that alcohol service should be stopped at 2 a.m. But bars with live music, or dance clubs, could be allowed to stay open later anyway.

People on the street saw pros and cons.

"It's be more crimes, more drunk driving," said Brendon Heib. "It'd be a despicable thing."

"If it helps business, the recovery of our economy, especially locally - if people want to drink, let 'em drink," said Ken Ellis.

In the Gentleman's Lounge barber shop, barber Sal Mireles said that later hours should be allowed on the "club days," Friday and Saturday. Maybe Thursday.

"Everybody's always looking for something to do afterward," Mireles said.

"Sometimes you just naturally want to party after 2," added barber Mario Alonzo.

A bartender I called later agreed. "They're usually having more fun at 2 o'clock than at 9 o'clock when they walked in," said Sandra "Deedee" Enberg at the Captain's Anchor.

OK, here's my idea. Declare the western half of the Louis Park peninsula - say, everything west of Kingsley Avenue - blighted. Bulldoze it, including buildings along the waterfront. Allow several marina bar-restaurants along a waterfront promenade to stay open until 4 a.m.

The Waterfront Entertainment District will cater to locals and boaters alike with food, drink, music, dancing, boat docks, gas, a small store, bait, etc. That will, by definition, be the place in town people go to stay out late.

Fill in the neighborhood with homes and apartments. Residents must sign a "right to drink" agreement. They agree they are moving into a district in which bar/restaurant hours and music are legally permitted until 4 a.m. They waive the right to poop the party.